Method and apparatus for packaging smoking articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10994874-B2
Application number	US-201716316222-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2017
Priority date	Sep 30, 2016
Publication date	May 4, 2021
Grant date	May 4, 2021

Abstract

A method of producing a pack of smoking articles includes providing a pre-assembled pack of smoking articles comprising an inner pack having a flexible sheet in which a group of smoking articles is wrapped or enclosed and a re-closable flap movable between a closed position preventing access to the smoking articles and an open position for accessing the smoking articles, and an outer pack comprising a container which holds and substantially encompasses the inner pack, the outer pack having a lid in a closed position preventing access to the inner pack; creating a space or gap between the lid of the outer pack and the inner pack; and attaching the re-closable flap of the inner pack to the lid of the outer pack via and/or through the space or gap. An apparatus for producing a pack of smoking articles per the above method is also provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of producing a pack of smoking articles, comprising:
providing a pre-assembled pack of smoking articles comprising an inner pack comprising a flexible sheet in which a group of smoking articles is wrapped and having a re-closable flap movable between a closed flap position for preventing access to the smoking articles and an open flap position for accessing the smoking articles, and an outer pack comprising a container which holds and substantially encompasses the inner pack, the outer pack having a lid in a closed lid position preventing access to the inner pack, wherein the lid is movable between the closed lid position and an open lid position for accessing the inner pack;
subsequently, creating a space between the lid of the outer pack and the inner pack to provide access to a portion of the re-closable flap, wherein creating the space comprises pivoting the lid relative to the container, from the closed lid position to an at least partially open lid position;
attaching the re-closable flap of the inner pack to the lid of the outer pack via the space; and
subsequently, transporting the pack to a wrapping station to wrap the pack individually in a clear film.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising introducing attaching means via the space for attaching the flap of the inner pack to the lid of the outer pack, wherein the attaching means is introduced into the space for contact with the flap of the inner pack and/or with the lid of the outer pack.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of introducing the attaching means comprises applying adhesive means onto the lid and/or onto the flap of the inner pack.

4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the adhesive means comprises at least one of: an adhesive element or strip; and an adhesive medium.

5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the adhesive medium is an adhesive in fluid state.

6. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the adhesive means comprises at least one of: a drying adhesive, a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and a hot-melt adhesive.

7. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the attaching step comprises bringing an inner surface of the lid and an outer surface the re-closable flap into direct contact with one another or indirect contact through the attaching means.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the space is created between an inner surface of the lid and an outer surface of the inner pack and measures less than or equal to 8 mm.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the lid is pivotally connected to the container of the outer pack, such that the lid is configured for pivoting between the closed lid position and the open lid position, wherein the step of relatively moving the lid from the closed lid position comprises relatively pivoting the lid with respect to the container through an angle (β) of less than or equal to 35°.

10. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
relatively moving the lid of the outer pack back to the closed lid position after introducing the attaching means;
wherein the step of moving the lid of the outer pack back to the closed lid position presses the attaching means into contact with either or both an outer surface of the re-closable flap of the inner pack and an inner surface of the lid of the outer pack.

11. An apparatus for producing a pack of smoking articles using the method of claim 1 , comprising:
a receiver configured to receive the pre-assembled pack of smoking articles, and
an applicator configured to apply an adhesive means and attach the re-closable flap of the inner pack to the lid of the outer pack.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the applicator is configured to introduce the adhesive means as an adhesive element or medium onto an outer surface of the flap of the inner pack and/or onto an inner surface of the lid of the outer pack via the space.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a sensor device for detecting an application of the means to the lid of the outer pack and/or to the flap of the inner pack; and
a sorting mechanism for rejecting the pack if the application of the adhesive means is detected as having failed.

Assignees

• Jt Int Sa

Inventors

• Franzen Jens
• Tritz Franz-Josef

Classifications

• B65D85/10568

  opening of the lid opens simultaneously an inner package within the container · CPC title

• B65D85/1045

  having a cap-like lid hinged to an edge · CPC title

• B65B61/20

  for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents (adding unpacking elements B65B61/18) · CPC title

• B65B57/08

  and operating to stop, or to control the speed of, the machine as a whole · CPC title

• B65B51/023

  using applicator nozzles · CPC title